Titans wide receiver Taywan Taylor (13) heads for the end zone and the team's first touchdown of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans and Buccaneers players go after a long pass into the end zone in the closing minutes of the Titans' 30-14 preseason loss at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans running back Dalyn Dawkins (39) breaks a tackle to gains yards in the third quarter of a preseason game against Tampa Bay at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans wide receiver Nick Williams (14) loses his helmet as he's called for a personal foul on a punt return by Buccaneers running back Shaun Wilson (38) n the third quarter of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans linebacker Daren Bates (53) hits Buccaneers wide receiver Bobo Wilson (85) then is called for taunting during the second half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans linebacker Daren Bates (53) is called for taunting after a stopping Buccaneers wide receiver Bobo Wilson (85) in the second half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) is tackled by face mask by Buccaneers defensive end Vinny Curry (97) in the second quarter of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Kendrick Lewis: Safety Kendrick Lewis suffered a foot injury in the preseason and has not played in a game this season, though he was a full participant at practice on Sept. 21.Here, Lewis (28) brings down Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) in the first half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel rubs his eyes during the third quarter of a preseason game against Tampa Bay at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) scores a touchdown in the first half of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) stops a run by Titans running back David Fluellen (32) in the first half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) drops back during the first half of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans wide receiver Taywan Taylor (13) leaves Buccaneers defensive back Justin Evans (21) behind on his way to a touchdown in the first half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans wide receiver Taywan Taylor (13) celebrates his touchdown as he comes off the field in the first half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Courtney Pedroza / Tennessean.com

Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) is congratulated after his extra point kick in the first half of a preseason game against Tampa Bay at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans defenders wrap up Buccaneers running back Peyton Barber (25) in the first half of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) looks to pass in the first half of a preseason game against Tampa Bay at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) looks to hand off during the first half of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans running back Dion Lewis (33) gains yards in the first half of a preseason game against the Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

A pass intended for Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (32) is incomplete in the first half of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

A pass intended for Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard (80) is incomplete defended by Titans cornerback LeShaun Sims (36) in the first half of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) gains yards in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Buccaneers running back Dare Ogunbowale (44) gains yards in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Titans at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) leads the team huddle before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) leads the team huddle before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

A Titans helmet rests on the field before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans linebacker Will Compton (51) watches from the sidelines before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans quarterback Luke Falk (11) warms up before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel gives instructions before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Dean Pees, Titans defensive coordinator, watches the team before the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Titans defensive back Kevin Byard (31) pulls in a pass before the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / tennessean.com

Titans linebacker Robert Spillane (42) warms up before the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / tennessean.com

"We didn’t cover good enough," the Titans coach said Sunday, a day after his team's 30-14 exhibition loss to Tampa Bay at Nissan Stadium in which the Buccaneers threw for 259 yards in the first half. "We didn’t rush good enough. We didn’t coach how to rush good enough. We didn’t coach how to cover good enough."

A lot of it had to do with Jameis Winston.

The Tampa Bay quarterback entered at the beginning of the second quarter with the Titans starters already out. Winston proceeded to lead the Bucs on drives of 50, 91 and 72 yards as they put up two touchdowns and a field goal to end the half.

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The Titans secondary allowed 259 passing yards in the first half against the Bucs in their exhibition on Aug. 19.
Erik Bacharach, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Those three drives featured five passes of 19 yards or more, including a 38-yarder and 54-yarder. Titans cornerbacks LeShaun Sims and Demontre Hurst as well as safety Kendrick Lewis all were victimized on the long gains.

"We weren't able to tackle (Winston) when we had a chance to get him in the backfield," Vrabel said. "That's something that the quarterbacks in this league are like. We have to be able to take advantage of the opportunities when he throws us one. Into a crossing-route, if there's a guy sitting there, we have to be able to make the plays when they're presented to us.

"It was a good opportunity for a lot of those guys to play against an NFL starting quarterback. Their first unit gives us a chance to evaluate some of those guys that are fighting for spots."

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The Titans' first-team offense was on the field for two series in an exhibition against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium on Aug. 18, 2018.
Erik Bacharach, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Winston's most ridiculous play came on his 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin at the end of the half. The Titans had several chances to prevent it.

Three pass rushers — linebackers Sharif Finch and Robert Spillane as well as defensive end Julius Warmsley — got a hand on Winston but couldn't bring him down. Lewis, Kenneth Durden and Sims were in the coverage area as Godwin came down with Winston's wobbly pass.

"You saw a couple of play extensions where he was able to keep the play alive, get a touchdown or he was able to take advantage of an isolation coverage over the top and they hit a big play," Vrabel said. "We just need to limit the big plays and the penalties which leads to usually scoring opportunities for the offense."

The good news? For its part, the Titans' first-team defense fared well in its two series. It first held the Bucs to a three-and-out before holding them to a field goal after a long drive.

"I think guys are still trying to figure out how to play to new defense," safety Kevin Byard said. "I do feel good about the first team having a three-and-out after giving up a big play last game. We’ve been talking about it all offseason, but I feel like as a DB group, as long as we don’t give up big plays, we’re going to win a bunch of ball games."

Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.

#32, David Fluellen, Running Back: Tennessee Titans running back David Fluellen (32) warms up before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

#82, Delanie Walker, Tight End: Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) races up the field with a completion during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

#60, Ben Jones, Center: Titans center Ben Jones (60) sits on the sideline during the second half of their game against the Texans at NRG Stadium Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 in Houston , Texas. George Walker IV / The Tennessean